Horseshoe.



un. 528,590. I Patented July n, |899.

w. E. sHAw.

HJRSESHUE.

(Application led Apr. 1l, 1898.)

(No Model.)

9g 9910999@ f* t Mgg fm: Novus PETERS ca. MoYo'umo., wnsumu'wm n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAhIENOS SHAW, OF` SAl\T FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

HoRsEsHoE.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent N0. 628,590, dated July 11, 1899. Application ledillpril 11, 1898. Serial No. 677,195. (No model.) i

T0 ctZZ wit/0m t pta/y concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Enos SHAW,

a citizen of the United States, residingat San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Horseshoes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tormake and use the same.

Realizing the impediment and injury to the animal resulting from the use of the ordinary non-yielding metal horseshoe it has been the aim of a multitude of recent inventions to provide means for softening the tread of the horse at the same time preserving to a certain extent the durability of the shoe, and to this class of devices my present invention relates.

The advantage of providing some sort of .foot-gear for the animals, and especially a yielding one, is of no late appreciation, for we find in history reference to Vespasians `muleteer shoeing his mules with wrappings of plaited ber, such as hemp or sparitum, and in Japan clogs of twisted straw were used, while our modern plan of the firm metal shoes would no doubt appeara barbarous custom in their minds. 'The rst mention of the and light shoe, by the use of which the speed and general action of the horse arebenetited,

while slipping and ,shock from concussion are` obviated. In this yielding property of the shoe, rendering, as it does, a resilience to the tread and action of the animal, is the remedy for the above diseases and ailments, as it reaches theV seat of the trouble by removing the cause. Y

A further object of my invention is to produce such a pressure on the frog of the shod horse as would naturally be felt were the horses hoof in its free, uncOnned, natural state, `but which cannot be obtained with an ordinarily-shod hoot' on account of the elevation of the frog above the ground. This socalled frog, which is a triangular median prominence, notched posteriorly and situated ture of the earth without increasing the suction incident.to travel on soft damp roads.

My invention com prehends another object, and that lies Vin the fact that when the horse is concentrating his energy in holding. back the peculiar structure of the parts acts in the nature of a lock as the weight of` the animal brings the shoe down against the. ground. This property of aiording a heel-and-toe hold is particularly valuable where the roads are of a hilly nature and a secure foot-hold an important item.

In aiming at the above results I have not overlooked the matter of structural simplicity and economy, and in the following specitication advantages other than those above set forth may appear to those familiar with this class of devices.

I' have clearly illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a viewfof ahorses leg with my shoe-positioned on the hoof. Thehoof is shown resting iiat on the ground. Fig. 2 is a similar View with the foot raised. Fig. 3 is a top view of the shoe. Fig. 4 is a section through the line X X, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section through line Y Y. Fig. 6 is a view of a modi` lication.

Fig. 7 is a section on line A A, Fig. 6. Fig. S is a sec-tion on line B B. Fig. 9 is a modification.

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Referring now to the above views by numerals, 1 represents the main portion of the shoe, the toe, heel, quarters, clip, and fullering for nails being formed asin the ordinary metal shoe.

Leading backward from the toe of the shoe and equidistant from opposite legs or quarters 2 2' thereof is the central spring-web 3, -which extends slightly beyond the heels of the shoe. By reference to Figs. 2 and 4 it will be seen that the plane of this web 3 is not coincident with the plane of the shoe proper, 4 but intersects it in the neighborhood of the toe. It is further manifest that as the shod hoof strikes the ground the rear extremities of the web 3 will come in contact with the ground first, and its springy yielding nature will prevent any sudden concussion to the ani-mal, but, on the contrary, let the hoof down gradually as the weight of the horse overcomes the spring in the web and causes it to occupy approximately the same plane as that of the shoe proper. It suffices merely to mention that in forcing this web down it comes in contact with the frog and produces the press-ure above set forth as most desirable.

As a means for increasing the foothold of the -shoe I have provided the cup-shaped metal member 4, into the cavity of which is molded under pressure a sufficient body of rubber to present a convex outer surface. To hold this rubber firmly within the cavity, I have formed the central shank 5, whose upper extremity spreadsout, as shown. The manner of securing this member 4 to the outer extremity of the web 3 is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. It consists in causing the'opposite edgesof the web to diverge as they advance from the toe, while the dovetailed groove in the under surface of the member 4 engages with this wedge-shaped web. The outer extremity of the web is bent upwardand backward to form the lip 6, which enters a corresponding cavity 7 in the member 4. By means of the screwr S, which passes through the lug y9 and into the web 3, the member 4 is securely held in place, while by pinching down the lip 6 further firmness is insured. It is evident that when the member 4 be- -comes worn the screw 8 can be removed and projection 11, formed integral with the toe of the shoe. The screw 12 ,prevents accidental withdrawal of the web.

In Fig. 9 I have shown the web built up of a plurality of leaves similar to an ordinary wagon-spring.

It is manifest vthat the use of my shoe relieves the foot with low heels and obviates the inclination of the pastern which fatigues the tendons. y

In extreme cases of quarter-crack the entire heels a-nd quarters of theshoe can be cut off and still the combined support from they toe and web :be sufficient to enable the animal to gain a square firm foothold.

I have practically demonstrated by actual trial that by the use of my shoe animalspreviously suffering from contraction or knee sprungare absolutely cured, while the perceptible improvement in the beauty of gait of the horse is worthy of especial mention.

I am aware that various changes in the form of the web as well as the manner of leading it from the shoe can be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, and I therefore reserve vthe right to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within its scope.

Having thusV f ullydescribed my invention, whatI claim, and desire` to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A non-slipping member for horseshoes adapted for contact with the ground or pavement consisting of an outer metalshell `having yan inwardly-flaring mouth, an inner body of rubber molded within said shell, a headed pin within said shell anda cavity in the under side of said shell, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with ahorseshoe,a spring web formed independent of said shoe, and a tapered dovetailed groove in said shoeadapted to receive one extrem-ity of said web, for the purpose set forth.

3. A horseshoe provided with a central spring-web,and a non-slipping surface formed independent thereof, bu-t secured to said web and adapted to come in direct contact with the ground, for the purpose set forth.

4. A horseshoe provided with an independently-formed central spring-web, a non-slipping surface removably secured to said web, said shoe being widened vat its point of union with said web, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IVILIIAM ENOS SIIA'W.

Witnesses:

D. B. RICH/mns GEO. S. l-IoLMns.`

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